1127 North Avenue, Burlington, 862-4300

New North End residents have long had high hopes for a neighborhood restaurant in the space at 1127 North Avenue that's worth opening their wallets for. Cannon's fit the bill for a while, with its fried, pecan-coated chicken. When that went downhill, nothing seemed to please the locals.

The last spot, Norm's Grill, opened and closed in little more than a year. The latest, Smitty's Pub, is the baby of Norm's bartender, Ed Smith. That's his silhouette on the sign. Or Alfred Hitchcock's. Either way, I couldn't help but hear "Funeral March of a Marionette" in my head as I entered the building.

Could Smitty do better than Norm? On first look through the restaurant, it appeared unchanged. The signed photos of athletes are the same. So is the set-up of separate entrances for the bar and restaurant. The menu, with its burgers named for everyone from Big Papi to Danica Patrick, was similar, too.

360 Dorset Street, South Burlington, 864-5222

Smell is often the first indicator of what to expect when trying a new restaurant. When I reviewed bevo a few weeks ago, the odor of smoking pork and French fries was a good indicator. Given that, I was a little worried about take-out and delivery-only Uncle Tony's Pizza.

When I picked up my dinner from its South Burlington location, my car took on an unmistakable, and very familiar, smell. When we were first together, my boyfriend worked at Domino's, suddenly, the car once again took on the doughy, slightly sweet aroma that continued to fill his car for months after he left the pizza biz.

Was I in for something like the chain pizza? Fortunately not, I learned as soon as I got home and actually saw the food. The irregular shape of my pie betrayed that it was hand-tossed. The sauce was homemade, too, and full of oregano.

10805 Main St., Hinesburg, 482-4444

When updating the 7 Nights guide each year, I've always felt an aura of mystery surrounding Good Times Café. Passing it while driving through Hinesburg, the feeling is the same. What's the deal with the little café that serves Italian, Cajun and American cuisine and homemade ravioli?

I finally found out this weekend. Entering from the back parking lot, the first glimpse of inside was a case filled with ready-made pizza crusts. I ordered at the counter and grabbed an Adirondack grape soda from the beverage fridge. The bright front area reminded me of a deli.

The dimly lit dining room, decorated with eclectic portraits, including Russian novelists and horses, had nothing deli about it.

147 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, 540-3093

This is a very special Alice Eats. Special because, rather than the review of a one-time, anonymous visit to an eatery, this is my paean to a favorite.

A favorite? regular readers may ask, but didn't Farah's Place open just a month ago? You're right. The place still doesn't even have a sign. But I've already dined there four times. And, I  wrote a story and did a video about chef-owner Farah Oberlender in her previous location in Johnson.

Since Farah's Place opened, quietly and signlessly in Burlington, I just haven't been able to stay away. And it's not just me. One of my Seven Days colleagues put the menu on the office fridge while I was on vacation.